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2007年VOA标准英语-Ethiopia Pardons 38 Opposition Members

时间:2007-07-23 01:10:29

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(单词翻译)

By Nick Wadhams
Nairobi
20 July 2007

Ethiopia announced Thursday it had pardoned 38 opposition1 leaders and activists2 just days after its high court sentenced many of them to life in prison for their role in post-election protests in 2005. As Nick Wadhams reports from our East Africa bureau in Nairobi, the move comes after allegations that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government was using the convictions to crack down on his opponents.

One of the politicians released in Addis Ababa, 20 Jul 2007
One of the politicians released in Addis Ababa, 20 July 2007

Just hours after the pardons were announced, three buses were seen taking the 38 to freedom. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said he hoped the pardons, issued Thursday but announced Friday, would show that his government would give people a second chance if they ask for it.

On Tuesday, a state-owned newspaper had published a letter in which the group purportedly3 asked for forgiveness after they were convicted of treason and trying to overthrow4 the constitution.

Many of those on trial had refused to defend themselves because they believed the process was a sham5. One leading opposition member, former Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada, says the cases never should have gone to court in the first place.

"Speaking from the humanitarian6 side, for the people who were in prison, that they are released I think very good, but politically we have been saying that imprisonment7 shouldn't have taken place. Because they were acting8 politically and we were demanding that they come out," he said. "This is a political condition and you cannot solve political problems with legal or administrative9 or by force. You have to solve political problems politically. The government refused."

The trial, convictions and harsh sentences had drawn10 widespread criticism from the international community. Rights groups have said it was part of a larger move by Prime Minister Meles to silence all his opponents, while the United States, Ethiopia's most important ally, had sought clemency12.

Several of those convicted were leaders of the opposition Coalition13 for Unity11 and Democracy Party, which had made major gains in the 2005 elections.

Former president Gidada says the government may have had other motives14 in releasing the prisoners.

"It's also somehow showing power, you put people in prison whenever you want and then you release them telling the people, you see I am strong and showing strength somehow trying to convey to the people that the government is magnanimous although it's not really magnanimous," he said. "This is a game which is being played."

Nearly 200 people were killed including six police in the post-election demonstrations15 in 2005, and some 30,000 people were later arrested. An independent inquiry16 into the 2005 protests had concluded that the government responded too harshly.

It's still not clear what will happen to the another 37 people who were convicted on similar charges during the trial. But the government has said it would consider clemency appeals for them.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
2 activists 90fd83cc3f53a40df93866d9c91bcca4     
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
  • Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 purportedly 0e5544199611270d77e0bbeb21c6c0d5     
adv.据称
参考例句:
  • This is purportedly the oldest tree in the world. 据称这是世界上最古老的一棵树。 来自互联网
  • Mayor Oh Se-Hoon launched the campaign last year, purportedly to improve efficiency. 据悉,首尔市市长吴世勋于去年提出了这项旨在提高工作效率的计划。 来自互联网
4 overthrow PKDxo     
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆
参考例句:
  • After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后,这个国家处于混乱中。
  • The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。
5 sham RsxyV     
n./adj.假冒(的),虚伪(的)
参考例句:
  • They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
  • His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。
6 humanitarian kcoxQ     
n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者
参考例句:
  • She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业,并作了很大的贡献。
  • The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。
7 imprisonment I9Uxk     
n.关押,监禁,坐牢
参考例句:
  • His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
  • He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。
8 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
9 administrative fzDzkc     
adj.行政的,管理的
参考例句:
  • The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
  • He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。
10 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
11 unity 4kQwT     
n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调
参考例句:
  • When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结,并非一团和气。
  • We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前,我们必须加强团结。
12 clemency qVnyV     
n.温和,仁慈,宽厚
参考例句:
  • The question of clemency would rest with the King.宽大处理问题,将由国王决定。
  • They addressed to the governor a plea for clemency.他们向州长提交了宽刑的申辨书。
13 coalition pWlyi     
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合
参考例句:
  • The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
  • Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
14 motives 6c25d038886898b20441190abe240957     
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
  • His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。
15 demonstrations 0922be6a2a3be4bdbebd28c620ab8f2d     
证明( demonstration的名词复数 ); 表明; 表达; 游行示威
参考例句:
  • Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
  • The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。
16 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

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